Shortage-Based Immigration:
Labor Certification or Schedule A

To sustain economic growth for the United
States, U.S. employers are allowed to hire workers from other
countries when it is not possible to find qualified and willing U.S.
workers for the position. There are primarily two categories of
shortage-based immigration: 1) labor certification; and 2) "Schedule
A."

Labor certification is a
process through which a U.S. employer proves that it cannot find a
minimally qualified U.S. worker for a specific position in a
specific location. "Schedule A" is a list of occupations for
which the U.S. Department of Labor has determined there is an
insufficient number of U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified
and available. Inclusion on Schedule A also establishes that the
employment of foreign workers in such occupations will not adversely
affect the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers similarly
employed. Currently, the only occupations explicitly listed on
Schedule A are physical therapists and professional nurses.

The approval of a "labor certification"
or "Schedule A" application allows the U.S. employer apply to the U.S.
Citizenship & Immigration Services for a green card for the foreign
worker. More details are included in the following links: